HEARTLESS social workers forced a 91-year-old from his home without authority and locked him in a dementia unit for 17 months, a court heard yesterday.

George McNamara, f the Alzheimer’s Society, campaigns for the best care for dementia patients

The frail former RAF gunner was taken from his house of 50 years in a dressing gown and separated from his cat.

Council staff then put him in a secure nursing home and ignored his pleas to be freed.

Only the tireless work of a close friend ended his nightmare.

The shocking abuse of power emerged in a landmark legal case in the Court of Protection that saw the man awarded damages of £60,000.

A High Court judge described the council’s behaviour as “reprehensible”.

The unnamed pensioner – known in court as Mr P – is now back home, where he is “happy and contented” and being looked after by carers.

Mr P’s solicitor Caroline Barrett said her client was “thrilled” to win his freedom.

She said: “We are very pleased that the local authority has now agreed to fund a package of care which has allowed him to return home.”

But campaign groups hit out at Essex County Council.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: “It is distressing that yet another shocking story has come to light of an older person who has been badly let down by a system that has failed to treat him with dignity or respect for his human rights.

“It is inexcusable and heartbreaking for anyone, of any age, to be dealt with in this way.”

Details of the disturbing case were revealed at the Court of Protection.

The court heard how the pensioner, who served as an RAF gunner in the Second World War and was later a civil servant, bought his house in Essex in the 1960s.

Following the death of his sister in 1998, he lived alone with his beloved cat Fluffy.

It is hard to imagine a more depressing and inexcusable state of affairs

Judge Mort

Although the “generous and charitable” man had dementia and other health problems, it did not justify social workers removing him from his home in May 2013, the court was told.

He was “very reluctant” and distressed when the council insisted he left his home wearing only a dressing gown.

The social worker overseeing the man’s removal first said he was going to a hotel but, when that failed to dislodge him, they threatened to call the police.

The decision to force him into care was made with no authority, the court heard.

He may have remained in the care home for the rest of his life had a friend not taken up his cause, it was said.

In his scathing ruling, Judge Paul Mort said: “Throughout the whole of the period of P’s placement, he expressed a consistent wish to return home.”

Despite expert advice that he was able to choose for himself, the council “did nothing to enable him to do so”.

Judge Mort said: “The result is that P was detained against his wishes for 17 months.”

Council chiefs finally allowed him home on the day the case was due to be heard.

The judge said: “It is hard to imagine a more depressing and inexcusable state of affairs.

"A defenceless 90-year-old gentleman in his final years was removed from his home of 50 years and detained in a locked dementia unit.

“Had it not been for the alarm raised by his friend, he may have been condemned to remain there for the remainder of his days.”

He slammed the council’s conduct as “substandard” and “totally inadequate”.

The council agreed to pay the man’s £50,000 legal bill plus £60,000 in damages and will fund an intensive care regime.

Last night Councillor Dick Madden, of Essex County Council, said: “We accept that in this case we failed to follow the legal requirements.”

George McNamara, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The best interests of the person with dementia must come first when making decisions about their care and support.”